The Atlantic

The Books Briefing: The Novel Life of Jesus Christ

Why the enigmatic character of Christ sparks the imagination of religious and nonreligious writers alike: Your weekly guide to the best in books

Countless writers, with varying degrees of success,my colleague , It is hard to think of any other figure who, over the years, has been claimed by so many and in so many different ways and for so many different purposes, who yet has never been identified exclusively with any single cause, and who has remained perpetually available for use.”

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